Ramaphosa Seeks Judicial Review of Phala Phala Report

President Cyril Ramaphosa applied for a judicial review of the Section 89 Phala Phala independent panel report on May 11, 2026 ^[1].

The move is a strategic effort to challenge the report's rationale in court. By questioning the findings, the president seeks to stall the impeachment inquiry and avoid removal from office [2, 3].

Ramaphosa's application focuses specifically on a review of the findings. He did not seek an interim interdict, which would have formally paused the legislative process [1, 4]. This distinction allows Parliament to continue its constitutional mandate while the court considers the legal merits of the report's conclusions [1, 4].

The Section 89 panel was tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of foreign currency at the president's home. The resulting report provided the framework for Parliament to consider whether the president violated the constitution, or committed a serious crime [2, 3].

Legal analysts said that by opting for a review rather than an interdict, the president is attempting to balance two objectives. He aims to undermine the evidence used for impeachment without appearing to obstruct the constitutional duties of Parliament [2, 3].

This legal maneuver places the judiciary in a central role regarding the president's tenure. The court must now determine if the panel's findings were reached through a sound legal process, or if they contain errors that invalidate the basis for impeachment [1, 2].

Parliament continues to navigate its mandate as the judicial process unfolds. The outcome of the review will likely determine whether the impeachment proceedings can proceed on their current legal footing [1, 4].